Look out I'm coming through
“ What on earth was that?”
Jolene and Paul, sat bolt upright from a very deep sleep. Jolene
reached for the light switch – it was 3 a.m. Paul leapt out of bed
still in a daze. Unable to see; as he blindly felt around the side and
end of the bed. So much crashing and squealing happening. The whole
house by this stage was wide-awake. Jolene realized that Paul had heard
the little black cat ‘ Pussy Foot’ coming in through the open bedroom
window.
Pussy Foot
three years old, but really small is an amazing hunter. Quite often she
would bring presents in to show her appreciation. Pussy Foot had no
sense of time. The hunter in her never slept.
As the bedroom was being
turned upside down, the light on the other three cats; – Towrag ‘
Cassidy and Sundance all in line to watch and witness this great and
mighty hunt – were joined by James the guide dog. Now, it was a small
bedroom, and as Jolene looked to see what the noise was all about – she
screamed in real terror – A large Black and very alive Rat – emerged
from under the clothes on the floor. Paul being the man that he is,
decided that he was going to get a hammer. Forgetting that there was no
way that he could see the stupid rat. Jolene was really worried that,
the rat would eat the computer chords.
The rat was at least as big
as Pussy Foot, how she could possibly get it in her mouth, let alone
jump through the bedroom window with it. Is still a mystery to day?
Jolene knew there was no way that Paul could possibly help with this
one, she was on her own. Now she had to face one of her worst
nightmares. Being badly bitten by a rat when a little girl. Rodents are
a major fear. Reaching for a towel she wrapped it around her hand and
arm. This she felt was her protection. Of course she knew that her
chances of getting the thing out were pretty jolly remote. By this
stage, Pussy Foot had given up throwing the rat around for the entire
world to see. She had done her skite act – was happy that everyone knew
of her catch. Proceeded to lick and wash herself as only a cat can do.
Of course she was keeping a
close eye on what was really happening. Jolene managed to get the
computer and all the wires out from the wall, and shaking with cold and
fear – she looked – but no rat! Turning franticly she wondered where
the thing could have gone. Eyeing off the large Scotch Chest of Drawers
– packed full to the brim – Jolene managed to pull this out from the
wall with brut strength, which seems to come at times like this. Of
course Paul was still standing close by, with the hammer in hand.
Perhaps a little to close, making it difficult for Jolene to move
things around. Towrag, eyes grew bigger and bigger – a dark piercing
green black, as she watched all the manoeuvring. Sundance, the large
Grey Fluffy Cat, whose pedigree name is really. Penniless Patty Cake.
Who in their right mind would name a cat that? It was bad enough
Sundance.
He was more like ‘Oscar the Grouch’ from Sesame
Street. James was lying in the doorway, observing and of course being a
Labrador thought only of food. Now, with the squeaking of Pussy Foot,
and the purring of Cassidy – Sundance giving himself a very sloppy
wash. The room was full of animal noises. Jolene feeling really sick
with fear at what the outcome would be. Looked under the bed, behind
the door. ‘No Rat.’ She knew there was no way it could have escaped
from the room. The only other remote place that this thing might be was
in the wardrobe. But, how, could it possibly be there. The door was
shut firmly tight. Deciding with Towrags encouragement as much as to
say ‘Really Mum, you humans are so thick at times. Look in the jolly
wardrobe.” Discussing with Paul, on which was the best move. Jolene
gingerly opened the door of the wardrobe. Not so much that she though
the rat was in there. More, to the fact, that everything that was so
neatly stacked on the floor, would tumble out. It was a mission on its
own to be able to access this said Closet. After all, what are floors
for, but to store things on? Jolene is known to be quite a womble. Door
only a fraction open, Pussy Foot on full alert, in she rushed.
No thought or care of what
would be knocked over. Stupid, stupid humans; of course that is where
my catch is. I thought you would never guess. What is the point of
playing hide and seek with you? “Thank you, come on you guys, lets go.”
Not only was one cat in, but all jolly four of them. We will help you.
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“No, you won’t.” “Just stop
us.” One cat after another was thrown out. One cat after another rushed
back in, while poor Jolene, tried so hard to gently take things out of
the floor. “ I see it, I see it, screamed Pussy Foot, with great
delight.” Looking up at her owners with all the pride in the world. All
that was visible was one long black tail. “Oh, my God,” breathing very
deeply, then taking a deep breath; Jolene made a grab for the tail.
Paul, still swinging the stupid hammer, said, “I’ll get it!” Yeah
right……….. How did he think he could possibly get the silly thing, when
he could not even see his own fingers? Really, by this time, Jolene had
lost her usually good nature, and was getting really cross. Jolene
lunged forward, grabbed the tail, and pulled.
It was so heavy. The cats
stood guard all waiting to make the first move, to be in on what they
estimated to be a wonderful chase. Not so. As the rat was extricated
from the closet, it took an almighty swing around and latched its
pearly whites, into Jolene’s arm. In a great deal of pain, Jolene
yelled at Paul as though he was miles away. Open the doors I am coming
through. Move out of my way. Look out Sundance, as she tripped over,
what was fondly called ‘The Mop!’ A cat brigade escorted this mighty
warrior down the passage to the closed front door. Paul, bringing up
the rear, and being ordered to please open the B… door. James, had seen
enough, but thought that he had better be in on whatever was going on.
Started to wag his rather large tail, and wanted to play.
Thump, thump thump, went his
tail, against the wall of the passage as he ran rather noisily down the
hall. If their exchange student could sleep through all the noise and
commotion that was happening. Then, they would sleep through an
earthquake. The door opened widely, Paul, moved aside, having no idea,
that this unwelcome guest, was having a good feed of his wife!! Jolene
moved out on the deck, determined to see the end of this scenario – of
course a guard of honour was formed by the cats and dog.
Well, really the dog was more
interested in what there was to eat. Jolene gathered up momentum as she
swung her arm round and around trying to free the teeth, which were
firmly planted in her wrist. Eventually, she won, and Mr Rat let go.
After one more extra swing,
just to make sure her aim was correct, and the rat would fly right over
the fence, down into the next street, never to be seen again. Jolene
let go. Crashing down on the deck, Rat hitting its head with an
almighty thud against the railing of the wet, and slippery deck. It had
not long stopped raining. Jolene, in major pain, on the deck, Paul all
concerned, Jolene yelling once more, shut the bloody door – as she
watched a very stunned and dizzy rat, walking in circles, trying to get
to the open door.
Yes, she had missed, the rat lived on. Cats,
fortunately, had not noticed, this and were busy, washing themselves
with much pride, at the disaster, they had managed to cause. Jolene,
dragged herself up, and off back to bed, with a most welcome coffee
that Paul made. Only to ind in the morning, yes – One very dead Rat at
the back door!
By Jen - August 6, 2003
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